Note 6. Franchise Operating Rights & Goodwill

Changes in the carrying amounts of the Company’s franchise operating rights and goodwill during the six months ended June 30, 2018 are set forth below:


	December 31,								June 30,
	2017		Acquisitions		Sales		Impairment		2018
		(in millions)
Franchise operating rights	$	952.4	$	—	$	—	$	143.2	$	809.2
Goodwill		384.1		—		—		113.2		270.9
	$	1,336.5	$	—	$	—	$	256.4	$	1,080.1

Due to the decline in the Company’s stock price during the first quarter of 2018, the Company performed an evaluation of recoverability of its franchise operating rights and goodwill.

Impaired Franchise Operating Rights

Franchise operating rights are evaluated for impairment by comparing the carrying value of the intangible asset to its estimated fair value, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods, at the reporting unit level. Qualitative analysis is performed for franchise assets in the event the previous analysis indicates that there is a significant margin between the carrying value of franchise operating rights and the estimated fair value of those rights, and that it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value equals or exceeds carrying value.

For franchise operating rights that were evaluated using quantitative analysis, the Company calculates the estimated fair value of franchise operating rights using the multi-period excess earnings method, an income approach, which calculates the estimated fair value of an intangible asset by discounting its future cash flows. The estimated fair value is determined based on discrete discounted future cash flows attributable to each franchise operating right intangible asset using assumptions consistent with internal forecasts. Key assumptions in estimating fair value under this method include, but are not limited to, revenue and subscriber growth rates (less anticipated customer churn), operating expenditures, capital expenditures (including any build out), market share achieved or market multiples, contributory asset charge rates, tax rates and a discount rate. The discount rate used in the model represents a weighted average cost of capital and the perceived risk associated with an intangible asset such as the Company’s franchise operating rights. Any excess of the carrying value of franchise operating rights over the estimated fair value is expensed as an impairment loss.

During the first quarter of 2018, as a result of the quantitative analysis, the carrying value of franchise operating rights exceeded the estimated fair value in four of the Company’s reporting units resulting in non-cash impairment charges of $3.2 million, $47.5 million, $77.5 million and $15.0 million in the Panama City, FL, Montgomery, AL, Huntsville, AL and Dothan, AL reporting units, respectively. The primary driver of the impairment charges was a decline in the price of the Company’s common stock, which reduced the market multiples utilized to determine estimated fair market values of indefinite-lived intangible assets in certain reporting units. The impairment charge does not have an impact on the Company’s intent and/or ability to renew or extend existing franchise operating rights.

Impaired Goodwill

Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at the reporting unit level utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods. Qualitative analysis is performed for goodwill assets in the event the previous analysis indicates that there is a significant margin between carrying value of goodwill and estimated fair value, and that it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value equals or exceeds carrying value.

For the quantitative evaluation of the Company’s goodwill, the Company utilizes both an income approach as well as a market approach. The income approach utilizes a discounted cash flow analysis to estimate the fair value of each reporting unit, while the market approach utilizes multiples derived from actual precedent transactions of similar businesses, the market value of the Company and market valuations of guideline public companies. Any excess of the carrying value of goodwill over the estimated fair value of goodwill is expensed as an impairment loss.

During the first quarter 2018, as a result of the quantitative analysis, the carrying value of goodwill exceeded the estimated fair value in four of the Company’s reporting units resulting in non-cash impairment charges of $23.7 million, $16.7 million, $20.2 million and $52.6 million in the Panama City, FL, Huntsville, AL, Augusta, GA and Chicago, IL reporting units, respectively. The primary driver of the impairment charges was a decline in the price of the Company’s common stock, which reduced the market multiples utilized to determine estimated fair market values of goodwill in certain reporting units.